The Competent Crew course introduces the complete beginner to cruising. You will learn about personal safety, seamanship and helmsmanship to the level required to be a useful member of the crew of a cruising yacht.
Duration: Five days/three sets of two days/five days non-consecutively in sets of three days and two days.
Recommended minimum age: 12
Residential course
Sea Terms and Parts of a Boat, her Rigging and Sails
Understands:
- Orders given concerning the sailing and day-to-day running of the boat
Sail Handling
Can:
- Bend on, set, reef and handle sails
- Use sheets and halyards and their associated winches
Ropework
Can:
- Handle ropes, including coiling, stowing, securing to cleats and single and double bollards
- Handle warps
- Tie the following knots and knows their correct use: figure-of-eight; clove hitch; bowline; round turn and two half hitches; reef knot, rolling hitch, single and double sheet bend
Safety on Board
Understands:
- Fire precautions and fighting
- What the particular hazards are, and actions to be taken to prevent and in the event of fire
- On-board alarms, including gas and carbon monoxide
Personal Safety Equipment
Understands:
- How to comply with guidance for the wearing of safety harnesses, life jackets and personal buoyancy aids
Man Overboard
Understands:
- The action to be taken to recover a man overboard
- How cold-water shock can affect a casualty in the water
Emergency Equipment
Understands:
- How to launch and board a life raft
- Distress flares and knows when they should be used
Manners and Customs
Understands:
- Accepted practice with regard to: use of burgees and ensigns; prevention of unnecessary noise or disturbance in harbour including courtesies to other berthed craft
- The responsibility of the boating community to protect the environment
Rules of the Road
Can:
- Keep an efficient lookout at sea
Tender Usage
Understands:
- The loading rules and complies with them
- The use and importance of a kill cord
- Safety equipment for tenders
Can:
- Handle a dinghy under cars
Meteorology
Knowledge of:
- The Beaufort Scale
Understands:
- The forecasting services and where to obtain a forecast
Seasickness
- Working efficiency is unaffected/partially affected/severely affected by seasickness
Understands:
- How to reduce the effects of seasickness (e.g. steer, look at the horizon, take anti-seasickness tablets before going afloat)
Helmsmanship and Sailing
Understands:
- The basic principles of sailing
Can:
- Steer and trim sails on all points of sailing
- Steer a compass course, under sail and power
General Duties
Can:
- Carry out general duties satisfactorily on deck and below decks in connection with the daily routine of the vessel